Reflective blown insulation with adhesive coating

ABSTRACT

The reflective blown insulation with adhesive coating is a material for providing additional insulation to reduce heat loss or gain, particularly in homes and like building structures, by adding a reflective layer blown over thermal insulation in the ceiling or attic of the structure. The material includes particles of reflective material (foil, plastic, etc.) having adhesive surfaces. The particles are deposited over a layer of thermal insulation. The reflective blown insulation is especially effective when applied to the floors of an attic. The adhesive surfaces are effective to prevent the particles from drifting after being blown into the desired area and may incorporate a fire retardant.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/526,657, filed Aug. 23, 2011.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to insulation material for building construction, and particularly to reflective blown insulation with an adhesive coating utilized for insulating building structures and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

The rising costs of fuels and electric power has produced a profound effect on the economic status of our nation and the world. Both home and business owners are searching for strategies to reduce these costs. It is noted that the cost of heating and cooling homes, offices and other structures accounts for a large percentage of the revenue spent for fuel and electricity. Almost all the heat loss or gain occurs through the outer walls and ceilings of building structures. Therefore, insulation decreasing this heat loss or gain would decrease the amount of fuel or electric power needed for heating or cooling the structures. In addition to the monetary savings involved, the lowered production of carbon dioxide gases, produced when burning fuels, would abate the cause of the greenhouse effect.

It is known in the art to blow materials into spaces, such as attics, to form insulation barriers. However, the blown loose material is subject to drifting due to air circulation in the attic, thereby creating voids in the insulation barrier and reducing the effectiveness of the insulation. The art would certainly welcome an insulation material that could be efficiently blown into a desired area, yet avoid drifting therein. Thus, reflective blown insulation with adhesive coating solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The reflective blown insulation with an adhesive coating is a material for providing insulation to reduce heat loss or gain, particularly in homes and like building structures. The material comprises particles of shredded reflective material (foil, plastic, etc.) having non-toxic adhesive surfaces. The particles are deposited over a layer of thermal insulation. As herein disclosed, the reflective blown insulation is especially effective when applied to attic areas. The adhesive surfaces function to prevent the particles from drifting after being blown into the desired area. A fire retardant may also be incorporated in the surface to diminish the effects of an accidental fire. The particles function to reflect radiant heat waves into a space during heating season, or away from the space during cooling season. This function allows a user to reduce the amount of energy needed to heat or cool the space, and enhances the effectiveness of conventional thermal insulation.

Accordingly, the invention presents particulate insulation that alleviates the effects of heat flow caused by radiant waves. The invention provides for improved elements thereof in an arrangement for the purposes described that are inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing their intended purposes.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of reflective blown insulation with adhesive coating according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of particles of reflective blown insulation with adhesive coating to reduce radiant heat loss or gain according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial elevation view in section of a particle of reflective blown insulation with adhesive coating according to the present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the reflective blown insulation with adhesive coating, generally indicated at 10 in the drawings, includes a plurality of particles 12 shredded to a suitable size to be efficiently blown into an area, such as an attic, of a building in need of insulation. The particles 12 comprise a reflective core 16 fabricated from foil or plastic. The core 16 functions as a barrier to reflect radiant heat flow. Layers of non-toxic adhesive material 14 are disposed on the exposed surfaces of the core 16. A fire retardant may be incorporated in the coating if desired.

As indicated above, once the particles 12 are blown and deposited in an area, the adhesive layers 14 will cause the particles 12 to adhere to each other to mitigate drifting thereof. This arrangement allows the particles 12 to assume a position to reflect radiant heat waves emanating from either inside or outside the building structure. It is preferred that the reflective blown insulation 10 form a layer of reflective material about 2-3″ deep over existing or conventional ceiling thermal insulation material (which may be blown fiberglass, fiberglass blanket insulation, etc.) thereby enhancing the effectiveness of conventional thermal insulation.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

1. Reflective blown insulation material adapted to reduce radiant heat loss or gain, comprising: a plurality of particles having a core fabricated from a reflective heat insulation material, the core having an outer surface; and an adhesive coating disposed on the outer surface of the core.
 2. The reflective blown insulation according to claim 1, wherein said core is fabricated from a reflective plastic material.
 3. The reflective blown insulation according to claim 1, wherein said core is fabricated from a reflective foil material.
 4. The reflective blown insulation according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive coating includes a fire retardant.
 5. The reflective blown insulation according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive coating is non-toxic.
 6. Reflective blown insulation material adapted to reduce radiant heat loss or gain, comprising: a plurality of particles having a core fabricated from a reflective heat insulation material, the core having an outer surface; a non-toxic adhesive coating disposed on the outer surface of the core; and a fire retardant incorporated in the non-toxic adhesive coating.
 7. The reflective blown insulation according to claim 6, wherein said core is fabricated from a reflective plastic material.
 8. The reflective blown insulation according to claim 6, wherein said core is fabricated from a reflective foil material.
 9. A method of installing insulation in an attic of a building, comprising the step of blowing a layer of reflective particles having an adhesive coating over a layer of thermal insulation material.
 10. The method of installing insulation according to claim 9, wherein said step of blowing the layer further includes blowing the layer of reflective particles to a depth of 2-3 inches over the layer of thermal insulation and wherein the adhesive coating includes a fire retardant incorporated therein. 